Fabric of Mutual Ministry

FMM

The Fabric of Mutual Ministry (FMM) is a partnership between Trinity Lutheran Church of Moorhead, the Eastern North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota synods of the ELCA, Luther Seminary, Concordia College, and is being done with support from the Lilly Endowment. The purpose of this ministry initiative is to assist first call pastors as they transition into their first call ministry setting. Together with ministry partners and congregations we hope to form a supportive network in which pastors can develop their pastoral identity.

As these pastors receive their letters of call, the Fabric of Mutual Ministry will be calling on their congregations to take part in workshops to look at ways that they can become vital first call congregations. We utilize resources from the ELCA department of Vocation and Education that lift up "exemplary" first call congregations in our church. We also allow time for the congregations to discuss how they can play a supportive role in their shared ministry with their new pastor. Mutual Ministry committees are of utmost importance in this time of transition. Mutual Ministry committees are made up of trusted members of the congregation and should be a place for support, conversation about new ideas, and place to talk in confidence about any concerns.

Each pastor will be invited to take part in this ministry initiative. The purpose of this ministry is to assist the pastor as they transition into their new call and their new identity as an ordained pastor. As part of their participation in this process they will be connected to other first call pastor in colleague groups. They will also attend First Call Theological Education (FCTE) which is a formal three-year structured program held at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. As these pastors mature in their pastoral identity we also ask that they tend to their spiritual formation as well. To that end we make available stipends for 6 sessions of spiritual direction per year.

Our hope is that we would create a supportive atmosphere in which none of us feels that we are alone in ministry. Rather, we believe that we are members of a larger body and each of us are vital and valuable to the building up of the body of Christ. The Fabric of Mutual Ministry's mission is to weave together these individual members and make our ministry together stronger.

to enter site: http://grou.ps/fmm/home

to learn more about the Lilly Endowment funded program Transition into Ministry: www.transitionintominstry.org